Cytinus

a genus of perennial herbs of the family Rafflesiaceae. The plants, which lack green coloration, parasitize the roots of other plants. They have scale leaves and unisexual flowers. A terminal inflorescence contains lower pistillate flowers and upper staminate flowers. The plants are monoecious. There are six species, growing in the Mediterranean region, southern Africa, and Madagascar. The USSR has one species, C. rubra, which grows on cistus roots at Cape Pitsunda.